Neck pain
Conditions
Interventions
Two groups:Abdominal Acupuncture three times a week for two weeks versus Sham abdominal acupuncture treatment
Sponsors
School of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1. Between 18 and 65 years of age with the ability to speak and understand Cantonese; 2. Neck complaints on: (1) pain, stiffness or tenderness, with or without musculoskeletal signs including decreased range of motion and point tenderness; (2) pain felt in the neck with radiation to the occiput or towards the shoulders, or both with limitation of neck motion; and (3) neck pain with degenerative joint disease or cervical spondylosis, or both; 3. 3 points or more on a 10-cm visual analogue scale for neck pain at the time of screening; 4. No previous treatment with abdominal acupuncture for any reason; 5. Agreed to be randomized; and 6. Agreed to sign the informed consent form.
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: 1. Visceral pain in the neck, including carcinoma of thyroid or larynx and tuberculosis of larynx; 2. Serious spinal disorders, including malignancy, vertebral fracture, spinal infection and inflammatory spondylitis; 3. Patients who previously had neck surgery or are scheduled to have one during the study; 4. Other chronic diseases that could interfere with abdominal acupuncture treatment effects, including cardiovascular disease, diabetic neuropathy, active hepatitis, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, dementia and epilepsy; 5. Diagnosis of cancer of any nature; 6. Chief musculoskeletal pain other than neck pain; 7. Conditions that abdominal acupuncture might not be safe, including clotting disorders, administration of an anticoagulant agent, acute abdominal disorders, venous dilation of the naval, celiac tumor and pregnant women; 8. Possess abdominal scar which will affect the proper selection of acupuncture points for abdominal acupuncture; 9. Severe psychiatric or psychological disorder; 10. Acupuncture treatment for neck pain during the previous month; 11. Conflicting or ongoing co-interventions (drugs or alternative treatments, or both); 12. Engage in any other clinical trial during the study period; 13. Pending neck-related litigation or disability claims; 14. Incapacity to complete the questionnaires or to answer the questions of the assessor in the study; and 15. Pregnant and breast feeding women.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire; | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| VAS for pain intensity;SF-36-v2 Health Survey;Credibility test;Satisfaction with treatment;Blinding assessment; | — |
Countries
China
Contacts
Public ContactProfessor Yuanqi GUO
Outcome results
None listed